Embracing the Joy of Christ's Birth

 

Summary

Summary:

Merry Christmas, everyone. Today, we delve into the profound narrative of the birth of Christ as recorded in Luke chapter 2. This historical account by Dr. Luke is not just a story but a pivotal moment in history where God entered human flesh. We explore this passage in three sections: the journey to the birth, the angelic announcement, and the encounter with Christ. Each section reveals the meticulous fulfillment of God's promises and the profound impact of Christ's birth on humanity.

In the first section, we see Joseph and Mary journeying to Bethlehem, fulfilling the prophecy of the Savior's birthplace. This journey underscores the truth that God always fulfills His promises. The second section highlights the angelic announcement to the shepherds, where the glory of the Lord shone around them, bringing good news of great joy for all people. This moment signifies the glory of the Lord filling a holy temple, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture.

The final section focuses on the shepherds' encounter with Christ. Their immediate response of obedience and proclamation of the good news exemplifies how the gospel demands a response. The shepherds' joy and praise reflect the transformative power of encountering Christ. As we reflect on this narrative, we are reminded of the importance of having a "no-so" faith, a faith grounded in the certainty of God's promises and the reality of Christ's presence in our lives.

Key Takeaways:

1. God Always Fulfills His Promises: The journey to Bethlehem and the birth of Christ demonstrate God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. Just as the Savior was born in the prophesied city, we can trust that God's promises in Scripture will be fulfilled in our lives. This assurance gives us confidence to face life's uncertainties with faith. [24:34]

2. The Glory of the Lord Fills a Holy Temple: The angelic announcement to the shepherds reveals the glory of the Lord shining around them. This glory signifies God's presence and His transformative power in our lives. As believers, we are called to be temples of the Holy Spirit, allowing God's glory to fill and guide us. [45:15]

3. The Gospel Demands a Response: The shepherds' immediate response to the angelic message highlights the urgency of responding to the gospel. The good news of Christ's birth is not just a historical event but a call to action. We are invited to share this news with others and live lives that reflect the joy and hope of the gospel. [56:10]

4. Faith Beyond Convincing: True faith is not a "convince me" belief but a deep trust in God's word and promises. As we grow in faith, we learn to rely on God's truth rather than seeking constant evidence. This faith sustains us through life's challenges and draws us closer to God. [07:40]

5. Encountering Christ Transforms Lives: The shepherds' encounter with Christ led to joy, praise, and proclamation. Similarly, our encounters with Christ should transform our lives, leading us to worship and share the good news. This transformation is a testament to the power of Christ's presence in our hearts. [59:19]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:55] - The Journey to the Birth
- [02:21] - The Angelic Announcement
- [03:11] - The Birth of Jesus
- [04:25] - The Shepherds' Encounter
- [05:42] - Understanding Belief
- [07:40] - Faith Beyond Convincing
- [10:05] - Luke's Historical Account
- [13:21] - The Census and Its Significance
- [16:07] - Joseph's Lineage
- [19:09] - Mary's Divine Encounter
- [23:14] - Fulfillment of Prophecy
- [24:34] - God's Promises Fulfilled
- [31:23] - The Shepherds' Role
- [36:40] - The Impact of the Angelic Message
- [56:10] - The Gospel's Demand for Response
- [59:19] - Reflecting on Our Encounter with Christ

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 2:1-20

Observation Questions:
1. What significant event prompted Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem, and how does this fulfill prophecy? [01:55]
2. Describe the shepherds' initial reaction to the angelic announcement. What does this reveal about their understanding of the event? [31:23]
3. How did the shepherds respond after their encounter with Christ, and what actions did they take? [52:43]
4. What are the three responses to the gospel mentioned in the sermon, and how are they demonstrated in the passage? [56:10]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the journey to Bethlehem illustrate God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises, and what does this mean for believers today? [24:34]
2. In what ways does the angelic announcement to the shepherds signify the glory of the Lord filling a holy temple, and how does this relate to believers being temples of the Holy Spirit? [45:15]
3. Why is the shepherds' immediate response to the gospel significant, and what does it teach about the urgency of sharing the good news? [56:10]
4. How does the concept of a "no-so" faith, as discussed in the sermon, challenge the idea of needing constant evidence for belief? [07:40]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt uncertain about God's promises. How can the story of Christ's birth in Bethlehem strengthen your faith in His faithfulness? [24:34]
2. The shepherds experienced the glory of the Lord and responded with joy and proclamation. How can you allow God's presence to fill your life and influence your actions this week? [45:15]
3. Consider the urgency with which the shepherds shared the good news. What steps can you take to share the gospel with someone in your life who needs to hear it? [56:10]
4. The sermon emphasized a "no-so" faith. How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God's word and promises, even when you don't see immediate evidence? [07:40]
5. The shepherds' encounter with Christ led to transformation. Reflect on your own encounters with Christ. How have they changed you, and how can you continue to grow in your faith? [59:19]
6. The sermon mentioned the importance of having a heart change by a merciful God. What areas of your life do you need to surrender to God, and how can you begin that process today? [59:19]
7. How can you incorporate the practice of memorizing scripture into your daily routine to strengthen your faith and reliance on God's promises? [28:52]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Promises Are Unfailing
The journey of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem is a testament to God's unwavering faithfulness. Despite the challenges and uncertainties they faced, their journey fulfilled the prophecy of the Savior's birthplace, demonstrating that God's promises are always realized. This historical event assures us that God's promises in Scripture are reliable and will come to fruition in our lives. As we navigate life's uncertainties, we can find confidence and peace in the knowledge that God is faithful and His word is true. [24:34]

"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:10-11, ESV)

Reflection: What is one promise from Scripture that you are holding onto today? How can you remind yourself of God's faithfulness in fulfilling that promise?


Day 2: The Glory of God in Our Lives
The angelic announcement to the shepherds was a moment where the glory of the Lord shone brightly, signifying God's presence and transformative power. This event reminds us that as believers, we are called to be temples of the Holy Spirit, allowing God's glory to fill and guide us. The presence of God's glory in our lives is not just a distant concept but a reality that can transform our hearts and actions. We are invited to live in a way that reflects His glory to the world around us. [45:15]

"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple." (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you allow God's glory to shine through you today? How can you be more aware of His presence in your daily life?


Day 3: Responding to the Gospel's Call
The shepherds' immediate response to the angelic message highlights the urgency and importance of responding to the gospel. The birth of Christ is not just a historical event but a call to action for all who hear it. We are invited to share this good news with others and live lives that reflect the joy and hope of the gospel. The shepherds' example challenges us to consider how we are responding to the gospel in our own lives and how we can actively share it with those around us. [56:10]

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror." (James 1:22-23, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively respond to the gospel today? Is there someone you can share the good news with or a way you can live out the gospel in your actions?


Day 4: Faith Rooted in Certainty
True faith is not about constantly seeking evidence but about trusting in God's word and promises. As we grow in faith, we learn to rely on God's truth rather than needing constant convincing. This kind of faith sustains us through life's challenges and draws us closer to God. It is a faith that is grounded in the certainty of God's promises and the reality of Christ's presence in our lives. [07:40]

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation." (Hebrews 11:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God fully? How can you begin to cultivate a deeper faith in His promises today?


Day 5: Transformation Through Encountering Christ
The shepherds' encounter with Christ led to joy, praise, and proclamation. Similarly, our encounters with Christ should transform our lives, leading us to worship and share the good news. This transformation is a testament to the power of Christ's presence in our hearts. As we reflect on our own encounters with Christ, we are reminded of the joy and hope that comes from knowing Him and the call to share that with others. [59:19]

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: How has your encounter with Christ transformed your life? In what ways can you share the joy and hope of knowing Him with others today?

Quotes

Open your Bibles to Luke chapter 2, and the title of this sermon is going to be The Birth of Christ, The Birth of Christ, from Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2, this is quite a big passage, this is a very familiar passage, but it's quite an honor to be able to serve it to you this morning in a sermon format, to be preached. This is an excellent passage to be able to hear on a Sunday morning, but this is in a historic account. [00:00:10] (43 seconds)


But the angel said to them, do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. For today in the city of David, there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. [00:04:00] (25 seconds)


The first main truth for this, for this first section is that God always fulfills his promises. God always fulfills his promises. Think of all the details of this passage. Even just the first section here, in the first seven verses, there's this point after point after point where the fulfillment of what God had said all throughout what we call the Old Testament has been fulfilled. It's been the Savior has been born in flesh. [00:24:34] (39 seconds)


It's so important to be able to have this kind of no-so faith. That it's not just something that's going to fail. It's not something that's going to, when something happens or some nation or head of state or whatever is going to write an executive order and it's going to go away. It's not. God's word sustains. God's words will fulfill. God always fulfills his promises. [00:25:30] (27 seconds)


And so as we get to understand the impact of this one angel and how the glory of the Lord shone around this one angel, I want to be able to kind of help us understand this phrase, glory of the Lord, which was the impact, was the only way to describe the effect of this one angel and the glory of the Lord. And oftentimes the glory of the Lord is mentioned where the glory of the Lord is the only way to describe the effect of this one angel. [00:33:20] (31 seconds)


This good news of great joy, also the gospel, it's good news for all people. This is good news for all people. It's a wonderful thing to be able to have the one and only Savior come into this world. There's this enormous amount of grace upon grace, common grace and special grace that is now being made available to the whole world. So the whole world benefits from this good news. [00:38:19] (38 seconds)


So in the heavenly host, you can almost see like an army where this glory of the Lord is shining around the shepherds. And now there's a multitude, a multitude appearing in like an army of angels. There was one angel that caused the, the glory of the Lord to shine all around them. But now you have a multitude of angels all around them. And you could just hear them yelling out glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace among them with whom he is pleased. [00:43:14] (32 seconds)


The first thoughts of these shepherds after the angels went away was obedience. Isn't that interesting? They did talk to one another, but it was like they were all on the same page. Let us go straight. Let us go straight to Bethlehem then. And so they did not want to waste any time. They didn't want to get some sleep for the hour, for the miles that they may need to be able to walk. They were just ready to go. [00:52:32] (31 seconds)


But it brings us to this main truth of this last section, that the gospel demands a response. The gospel demands a response. Like I was saying earlier, like when you hear big news about anything, it's hard to be quiet. It demands you to say something. It demands for you to change course. You'll be able to do something, especially something that's going to impact you as a person directly. Whether it's you lost your job, whether you got a job, whether you're getting married, whether you're having kids. [00:56:17] (36 seconds)


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Transcript
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